Liverpool has rejected an audacious bid by Andy Carroll's former club Newcastle United to take the beleaguered striker back to the Sports Direct Arena on loan, but a permanent move could still be possibly agreed upon.

Newcastle sold Carroll for 35 million pounds to Liverpool eighteen months back, but since then his form has deteriorated, and the former Geordie star could manage to score only six times in 42 games for the Merseyside club.

Brendan Rodgers, the new Liverpool manager, appeared to publicly clear Carroll for a transfer away from the club last week and Newcastle manager Alan Pardew made his move over the weekend, in an attempt to head off interest from West Ham, Aston Villa and A C Milan.

Newcastle's offer was also understood to be minimal, paying only a small portion of his wages, and was laughed off by Liverpool's owners, but is unlikely to be the final offer made by Ashley in this transfer window.

Newcastle are expected to return with a cut-price bid towards the end of the window, in the hope of forcing Liverpool's hand and tempting Carroll into making an emotional return to his hometown. (ANI)